SolidmiseryonAD: Discontinued My Bupropion Taper - Game Over - Now, Starting (Hopefully) a New Game called Healing from Long Term Drug Use

[SolidmiseryonAD]

Yesterday, May 1, 2024, I finally stopped taking Bupropion. I tapered down to a dose of 4.5 mg over six years from 300 mg before deciding to discontinue it. After learning about ‘kindling’ from discussions here, I thought it was time to see if I could manage without the medication since it was becoming more and more difficult to taper, having more and more unpleasant symptoms regardless of how long I held at a dosage.

Originally, I planned to reduce the dosage to zero gradually, but circumstances led me to stop the 4.5 mg dose directly after a very long hold. I made this decision because I was experiencing signs of kindling, such as POTS symptoms, exercise intolerance, IBS, insomnia, weird blood pressure fluctuations, and other issues such as ruination and dizziness.  

 

Since stopping the Bupropion, I've noticed some immediate changes: my blood pressure has returned to a normal range, and I slept very well last night, like a baby. I'm still feeling a bit tired, but overall, I feel good about my decision and the initial outcomes.

 

I'm bracing myself for a massive migraine headache that might hit in the next day or so, based on my experiences with previous tapering phases. If this last reduction follows the same pattern as before, I'll likely face some challenging days ahead.

 

Over the past six years, one of the most frustrating aspects of tapering Bupropion has been the lack of detailed information available. Specifically, data like blood concentrations per dose was impossible to find, leaving me with many unanswered questions as I navigated the process of reducing my medication. This lack of information made each step of the taper more challenging than it needed to be. I’m grateful to this site because I know I’m not alone in this struggle.

 

I feel like I'm not completely out of the woods yet. There's still a journey ahead toward full healing. Ever since I started this lengthy taper, I've been experiencing tinnitus, which almost never goes away. This constant ringing in my ears is just one of the challenges I'm facing as I work towards recovery.

 

I'm also unsure if I might need to reinstate the medication at some point. It's possible that what I'm experiencing now is just a brief respite—a honeymoon period—before another wave of symptoms hits me. The uncertainty makes it a cautious time, but I'm hopeful as I continue to monitor my health and adjust as needed.

 

I plan to keep visiting this site regularly. If I haven't had to reinstate the medication by May 2, 2025, I aim to share my success story here, hopefully inspiring others on their own journeys toward recovery.

Thanks!

[Erimus]

Hello, and welcome to Surviving Antidepressants. We are a peer support forum to assist in tapering off psychiatric drugs safely, or recovering from psychiatric drug withdrawal.

 

I've moved your post from the success stories topic to the introductions section. Success stories are usually reserved for when someone has been off psychiatric drugs for a year, and/or recovered.

 

 

This topic is for anything relating to you, and any questions you have. Please do not start another topic.

 

All the answers you are looking for regarding tapering and antidepressant withdrawal are on this site. Please search around and continue to read as much as you can manage. Use the site search function to search for specific words or phrases, such as drugs or symptoms.

 

Here are a few of the most useful links:

 

Important topics in the Tapering forum and FAQ

 

What is withdrawal syndrome?
 
About reinstating and stabilizing to reduce withdrawal symptoms
 
The Windows and Waves Pattern of Stabilization

 

Hypersensitivity and Kindling

 

We only recommend two supplements. Omega 3 Fish Oil and Magnesium. Both should be introduced separately and increased slowly.

 

Regards

Erimus

[zma1]

Oh my gosh! Congratulations and I wish you the best! I hope you don’t have a big wave hit— maybe it’ll just be smooth sailing. Weirder things have happened. Take care and I hope we hear a lovely success story next year. Hugs😊